Social welfare — Topics

8 Apr 2013

Annual CPF Medisave Account Balances from Accounts of Deceased

Patrick Tay asked the Minister for Health for the average CPF Medisave Account balance left by deceased CPF holders each year from 2008 to 2012.
Gan Kim Yong responded that half of CPF members aged 65 or older who passed away in 2012 had about $2,700 or less in Medisave, with about one-third having less than $1,000.
He noted that some may have benefited from government top-ups and their children's Medisave for healthcare expenses.
The Minister emphasized the need to help Singaporeans maintain adequate Medisave balances for old-age healthcare and MediShield coverage up to age 90.
Unused Medisave balances become part of the total CPF balances bequeathed to the deceased member's family.

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8 Apr 2013

Access to Pay and Tax Records for Processing of MediFund

Minister Gan Kim Yong confirmed that public hospitals can already access patients' CPF and IRAS records with consent to process MediFund and other assistance applications, though CPF data has a $5,000 monthly income cap.
The government is working to integrate full income data from IRAS, targeting implementation by early next year to improve accuracy and reduce patient documentation burden.
While current systems already streamline applications for subsidies and financial counselling, ongoing improvements aim to further minimize administrative hassle for patients and families.

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15 Mar 2013

Acknowledgement to the Chair

The Leader of the House commended the comprehensive debate on the Budget, highlighting the increased scrutiny, high quality of discussion, and focus on helping the vulnerable, while also noting the need for more succinct speeches and reflecting on Singapore's mature economic phase.
The Budget's themes centered on inward-looking adjustments for infrastructure, cost of living, and ageing population, with concrete provisions like more healthcare and childcare, while addressing fears about SMEs and fiscal health.
The Speaker thanked all Members for cooperation, emphasized the focus on the elderly, low-income, and young, noted the frequent use of "consultation" in debates, and provided advice for future sessions on brevity and effective speaking.

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14 Mar 2013

Committee of Supply – Head I (Ministry of Social and Family Development)

The Ministry of Social and Family Development outlined its priorities to enhance social services, focusing on flexible and tailored assistance, more accessible and integrated care, and building a stronger social service sector through better organization, manpower development, and community partnerships.
Discussions emphasized expanding childcare and student care services, with plans to build more centers, improve affordability and quality, and consider changes to the Anchor Operator scheme to ensure fair competition and better support for middle- and lower-income families.
The debate highlighted support for vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, the elderly, and single parents, with initiatives like extending childcare leave to unwed mothers, promoting adoption, and enhancing active ageing programs.

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13 Mar 2013

Committee of Supply – Head I (Ministry of Social and Family Development)

Multiple MPs called for a stronger, more integrated and user-centric social safety net, urging better coordination across ministries and agencies to avoid falling through the cracks and to simplify access for vulnerable groups.
Several speakers emphasized targeted support for vulnerable families, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and low-income households, including enhanced financial aid, more adult disability care places, and schemes to address healthcare and living costs.
There were suggestions to promote active ageing with concessions on transport and leisure, improve childcare supply and affordability, and develop a "living wage" benchmark to better evaluate public assistance.

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12 Mar 2013

Committee of Supply – Head O (Ministry of Health)

Members expressed concern about the rising cost of healthcare and the adequacy of the current 3M financing framework (MediSave, MediShield, MediFund), urging a major review to enhance affordability, especially for outpatient and long-term care, and to increase the government's share of healthcare expenditure, which the Health Minister confirmed would rise from one-third to about 40%.
Discussions highlighted the need to improve primary and preventive healthcare, including expanding services like polyclinics, CHAS, and mental health support, while addressing manpower shortages and remuneration schemes for healthcare professionals to ensure sustainable and quality care.
The debate also covered specific issues such as the referral system for subsidised care, means-testing processes, use of MediSave for various treatments, and the need for transparency in fee structures, with the Ministry announcing enhancements to MediFund, drug subsidies, and the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund.

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8 Mar 2013

Committee of Supply – Head Q (Ministry of Communications and Information)

The debate focused on the transition to digital TV, with concerns about bridging the digital divide, ensuring affordable access for low-income households, and the need for a clear timeline and benefits for Singaporeans.
Members called for more support for local content creation across media platforms, including music, TV, and news, with suggestions to increase accessibility and royalties for local talents.
Discussions highlighted the need to use ICT for social good, such as aiding the elderly, disabled, and low-income families, and improving productivity for SMEs through technology adoption and smart work centres.

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7 Mar 2013

Computation of the Gini Coefficient

Irene Ng asked for the data used to compute the Gini coefficient and key household income trends for citizens, as well as the Gini coefficient for the last five years excluding permanent residents.
The Minister stated that median monthly household income per member for citizen employed households rose 7.2% nominally and 2.4% in real terms from 2011 to 2012, with a cumulative real increase of 13.9% from 2007 to 2012.
In 2012, the Gini coefficient for citizen employed households was 0.4671 before adjustments and 0.445 after accounting for government transfers and taxes, indicating a redistributive effect and lower inequality compared to resident households.
The Minister provided the coefficients for the last five years in an exhibit, but the specific values for those years are not detailed in the given debate speech.

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7 Mar 2013

Debate on Annual Budget Statement

Several members supported the budget's focus on helping older Singaporeans, lower-income families, and businesses through measures like the Wage Credit Scheme and productivity incentives, while also stressing the importance of social mobility and a caring government.
Debates highlighted the need for a more cohesive society, with proposals for a new ministry to foster consensus, unity, and better integration of new citizens, alongside calls for greater support for persons with disabilities and caregivers.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized restructuring the economy toward quality growth, with significant support for SMEs and a progressive fiscal system, while addressing income inequality, healthcare financing, and the need for sustainable policies without creating dependency.

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6 Mar 2013

Debate on Annual Budget Statement

The Budget 2013 focuses on quality economic growth and building an inclusive society, with measures totalling $5.9 billion to help businesses re-invent and $1.7 billion in financial aid for lower-income Singaporeans.
Concerns were raised about the pace of economic restructuring, the impact on SMEs and middle-income earners, and the need for more direct support, such as co-sharing bonuses for low-wage workers and a Health Promotion Endowment Fund.
Members emphasized the importance of improving productivity, supporting active ageing, and ensuring affordable housing, with suggestions like regulating HDB flat sales and reclaiming land value upon resale.
There were calls for better communication of policies to rebuild trust, address income inequality, and ensure Singaporeans' needs remain central amidst globalization and an ageing population.
The debate highlighted the need to balance competitiveness with social inclusivity, invest in sports and arts for quality of life, and reconsider meritocracy to foster a more cohesive society.

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6 Mar 2013

Debate on Annual Budget Statement

The debate centered on the need to transition to a quality-growth, inclusive economy, with strong focus on supporting lower-income and older workers through enhanced schemes like Workfare and the new Wage Credit Scheme, while also addressing cost-of-living concerns and the need for a stronger social safety net.
Key concerns included work-life balance, flexible work arrangements, and the pressures on families and caregivers, with calls for legislative support for flexible work and better support for childcare and elderly care.
Debates also highlighted challenges in public transport, housing affordability, and the impact of immigration and foreign labor policies, with suggestions for more targeted support for SMEs and a rethinking of productivity initiatives to ensure benefits reach workers and smaller businesses.

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5 Mar 2013

Debate on Annual Budget Statement

Gerald Giam highlighted that Singapore's income inequality widened in 2012 despite an "inclusive" budget, with the Gini coefficient rising to 0.459, and argued that high inequality threatens social cohesion, economic growth, and meritocracy.
He supported making the tax system more progressive and the Wage Credit Scheme but questioned its effectiveness in raising productivity, noting SMEs face challenges in hiring locals and proposed a "New Hire Wage Credit" scheme to subsidize wages for new hires in SMEs.
Giam criticized the slow progress in raising productivity, noting it fell to -2.5% in 2012, and urged the government to consider more drastic measures if productivity targets are not met soon.
The debate emphasized the need for policies to address income inequality, support SMEs, and improve productivity, with Giam suggesting specific schemes to aid local employment and workforce participation.
Overall, the budget was seen as focusing on economic restructuring but needing adjustments to better help lower-income groups and ensure sustainable growth.

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5 Mar 2013

Debate on Annual Budget Statement

The debate centred on balancing economic restructuring for quality growth, with tighter foreign worker policies and the Wage Credit Scheme to support businesses and raise Singaporean wages, while acknowledging the pain for SMEs and the need for a careful transition pace.
There was strong emphasis on building a more inclusive society through increased social spending, particularly on preschool education and healthcare financing, to support lower and middle-income groups, retirees, and sustain social mobility.
Members highlighted concerns over the rising cost of living, the need for work-life balance, and supporting vulnerable groups like low-wage workers and women in the workforce, with some calling for more progressive taxation and a re-examination of economic and social policies.

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25 Feb 2013

Lease Buyback Scheme and Silver Housing Bonus

Ms Foo Mee Har inquired about the total number and percentage of flat owners who have successfully used the Lease Buyback Scheme and Silver Housing Bonus since their launch.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that the Lease Buyback Scheme, introduced in 2009, has seen 471 households take it up to date.
He added that the enhanced Lease Buyback Scheme and Silver Housing Bonus were implemented on 1 February 2013, and the ministry is currently providing queries and financial counselling on both schemes.

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25 Feb 2013

Opening of Savings Account by Parents of Children with Severe Disabilities

Member Zainal Sapari asked if the Prime Minister can direct commercial banks to allow parents of children with severe disabilities to open savings accounts without requiring a court order.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, speaking for the Prime Minister, clarified that banks are not legally required to demand a court order but do so due to internal policies to safeguard the child's interests.
He explained that banks may advise parents to obtain a court order to appoint them as deputies, ensuring the bank can act on legally authorized instructions.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) acknowledges the difficulties parents face in getting a court order and will collaborate with government bodies, courts, and industry groups to address the issue.

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25 Feb 2013

Annual Budget Statement

The government projected a modest GDP growth of 1-3% for 2013, highlighting challenges from global factors and an aging workforce, while noting a $3.9 billion surplus for FY2012 driven by short-term revenue increases.
A "Quality Growth Programme" was introduced, focusing on restructuring the economy through tighter foreign worker policies, wage subsidies, and productivity incentives to raise incomes and support businesses during the transition.
Social measures were expanded to promote inclusivity, including enhanced Workfare payouts for low-wage workers, property tax reforms targeting high-end properties, and new funds for healthcare, eldercare, and community services.
The government announced direct assistance to households, such as double GST Vouchers, Medisave top-ups for seniors, and tax rebates, to address cost-of-living pressures while maintaining a balanced budget with a projected surplus.

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25 Feb 2013

Rental Flats for Citizens with Spouses on Long-term Visit Pass

Lee Li Lian questioned why Singapore citizens with spouses on long-term visit passes are ineligible for HDB rental flats and asked about alternative housing options.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary explained that HDB rental flats are heavily subsidised for low-income citizen households without other housing options.
The scheme distinguishes between citizens married to other citizens and those married to foreigners, but HDB may consider each case flexibly to assist those truly in need.

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25 Feb 2013

Help for Low-wage Workers

The Tripartite Committee for Low-Wage Workers and Inclusive Growth focuses on promoting Workfare Training Support, raising awareness of employment rights through the WorkRight campaign, and implementing best sourcing practices in outsourced sectors like cleaning and security.
The committee has prioritized the cleaning and security sectors to improve wages and employment conditions, using these as models to help other low-wage workers in different industries.
While the government currently works with tripartite partners to address working conditions and rights without amending the Employment Act, future amendments may be considered if necessary.
Beyond wages, support for low-wage workers includes schemes like Medifund, Workfare, and rental rebates, and the committee is exploring ways to better communicate these measures to workers and employers.
The Progressive Wage Model, which links skills, wages, productivity, and career progression, is being considered for sector-specific implementation with the National Trades Union Congress.

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25 Feb 2013

Reducing Foreign Domestic Worker Levy

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah proposed reducing the foreign domestic worker levy to ease the financial burden on families and asked about exploring new source countries for domestic helpers.
The Acting Minister for Manpower explained existing levy concessions and grants for families with elderly or disabled members, noting that many already benefit from reduced rates, and mentioned a pilot program to consider Cambodia as an additional source country.
MPs raised concerns about the challenges faced by low-income families in hiring domestic workers for caregiving, suggesting adjustments to eligibility criteria for grants and allowances, with the Minister agreeing to review policies based on feedback.

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7 Feb 2013

MediShield Coverage for Congenital Illness for Persons Diagnosed before March 2013

Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Ministry of Health to extend MediShield coverage to persons with congenital illnesses diagnosed before 1 March 2013, who are excluded from the Marriage and Parenthood Package.
The Ministry responded that MediShield does not cover pre-existing conditions to avoid raising premiums for all, but introduced Medifund Junior to provide financial aid for children with such conditions, targeting families with higher needs.
Phua expressed gratitude for the new measures but stressed that basic healthcare insurance should be a right for all citizens, not just children under 18, and requested clarification on Medifund Junior’s criteria and coverage for adults with congenital conditions.
The Ministry acknowledged the concerns, highlighted the increase in Medifund for those above 18, and committed to ongoing improvements to ensure no Singaporean is deprived of medical services.
Both parties agreed on the need for continued dialogue and potential solutions, such as co-sharing insurance or state support, to address gaps in coverage for congenital and pre-existing conditions.

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